Another Harry Norris building has been demolished, this one on the corner of City Road and Clarendon Street, Southbank. Designed by Norris in 1936 as the headquarters for James Hardie and Co, it was named Asbestos House, as many of the major building products manufactured and sold by the firm contained asbestos. Of course, this was in the days when …

After a decade-long battle to preserve the Capitol building, demolition has commenced on this prominent South Yarra corner. The building started life as one of Melbourne’s cable-car engine-sheds before being converted to a bakery in 1936 after the trams were electrified. The makeover was designed by prolific local architect Harry Norris. The massive development of apartment blocks in South Yarra …

The Astor Theatre is one of Melbourne’s last remaining (and much-loved) Art Deco cinemas. It remans as a single-screen venue – one of the last of its kind in Australia, and certainly the largest still-operating relic of the era of the picture palace in Melbourne. In recent years it has been the subject of a number of owners, both of …

A sad day for Melbourne is just about to take place with the imminent closure of the Palace Theatre (formerly the Metro) at the top of Bourke Street. The owners wish to replace the building with a new hotel. It robs Melbourne of a major live music venue, much-loved by many. It began live as a live theatre in 1912, …

The concrete lookout tower at the top of Arthur’s Seat on the Mornington Peninsula was a feature of the precinct since constructed by the Shire of Flinders (to a design by the Shire Engineer GW Brown) to commemorate the Victorian Centenary of 1934. Unfortunately the tower we recently demolished by Parks Victoria to make way for a new station for …

In the last issue we reported on possible problems with the future of the iconic 1936 Astor Theatre in St Kilda. Numerous rumours were circulating about it possibly being sold by St Michael’s Grammar School, perhaps to a ‘white knight’. This turned out to be correct. In August 2012, St Kilda businessman Ralph Taranto bought the Astor for an undisclosed …

Following the notification that the former Melford Motors (Harry Norris, 1936) building on the corner of Elizabeth and Queensberry Streets, Melbourne was recommended for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register, the current owners (Toyota Australia) have opposed the listing and will now present its case at a hearing in November.

A major preservation battle has broken out over the future of the iconic Astor Theatre in St Kilda. Constructed in 1936, the theatre (with its neon spangled facade) is famous for its double-bill cult and arthouse classics and is Melbourne’s last operational single screen cinema. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and is not threatened with demolition. The …

In the last edition of Spirit of Progress, we informed members that ADMS made a submission for this classic motor showroom, designed for the Ford Company in 1936 by Harry Norris to be included on the Victoria Heritage Register. ADMS has just been informed that the building has been recommended for inclusion in the Register. The owners have 60 days …